JP2815634B2 - Facsimile machine - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a cordless facsimile apparatus including a master unit and a slave unit.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a facsimile apparatus which is connected to a telephone line and communicates with another station to record image data such as a document from a transmitting station or transmit image data to a partner station.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

Incidentally, in the facsimile apparatus, since the main body is connected to a telephone line, the main body cannot be freely moved. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, a master unit 1 connected to a telephone line and communicating with another station, and performing wireless communication with the master unit 1 to record image data from a transmitting station, or A cordless facsimile apparatus including a slave unit 2 that transmits image data to a partner station can be considered.

In such a cordless facsimile apparatus, when communicating image data between the master unit 1 and the slave unit 2, a currently vacant channel is selected from a plurality of channels for communication.

By the way, once a channel is selected and communication is started, the same channel is used until the end of communication.
If communication is performed using an adjacent channel in another cordless type facsimile machine, there is a possibility that an error may occur in image data due to the influence of this communication. Further, there is a possibility that an error may occur in the image data due to the influence of a television wave or an obstacle between the master unit 1 and the slave unit 2.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a cordless facsimile apparatus that does not deteriorate communication quality between a master unit and a slave unit.

[Means for solving the problem]

The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention is a cordless type facsimile apparatus in which a plurality of channels are shared between a parent device and a child device, and the child device transmits and receives image data via the parent device using a common channel. A facsimile apparatus, wherein one of the master unit and the slave unit is a channel switching unit for sequentially switching a plurality of channels, and a test pattern transmission for transmitting a test pattern signal to the other on a carrier of a channel set by the channel switching unit. Means, a response signal receiving means for receiving a response signal from the other to the test pattern signal, an error rate calculating means for calculating an error rate in a channel in which the test pattern signal is transmitted from the response signal, Channel extracting means for extracting a channel having a small error rate in accordance with the obtained error rate. But as it would be configured to switch the channel in conjunction with the channel switching means,
And a response signal transmitting means for generating the response signal in accordance with the received test pattern signal and transmitting the generated response signal to one of the generated response signals.

The facsimile apparatus according to claim 2 is the facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of the master unit and the slave unit further includes a carrier level detection unit that detects a carrier level of a channel set by the channel switching unit. The test pattern transmitting means includes a plurality of test patterns that are sequentially switched by the channel switching means, and only when the carrier level detecting means detects a carrier level lower than a predetermined level, the test pattern is transmitted by the carrier of this channel. It is configured to transmit a signal.

A facsimile apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the base unit and the slave unit share a plurality of channels, and the slave unit transmits and receives image data via the master unit using a common channel. Wherein one of the master unit and the slave unit is a channel switching unit that sequentially switches a plurality of channels, a nozzle level detection unit that detects a nozzle level in a channel set by the channel switching unit, Channel extracting means for extracting a channel having a low noise level in accordance with the obtained noise level, and the other is configured to switch channels in conjunction with the channel switching means.

The facsimile apparatus according to claim 4 is the facsimile apparatus according to claim 3, wherein one of the master unit and the slave unit further includes a carrier level detection unit that detects a carrier level of a channel set by the channel switching unit. The noise level detecting means detects a noise level in this channel only when the carrier level detecting means detects a carrier level lower than a predetermined level among a plurality of channels sequentially switched by the channel switching means. It is configured as follows.

[Action]

According to the facsimile apparatus having the configuration of the first aspect, the master unit and the slave unit sequentially switch a plurality of shared channels in cooperation with each other, and for each switched channel, one of the master unit and the slave unit transmits the test pattern signal to the other. Send to The other of the parent bank or the child device that has received the test pattern signal creates the response signal according to the received test pattern signal and sends it back to one. One side that receives this response signal,
The error rate in the channel where the test pattern signal is transmitted is calculated from the response signal. In this way, channels having a low error rate are extracted according to the obtained error rates of the respective channels. As described above, if a channel having a small error rate is extracted, image data is transmitted and received in good condition by using this channel as a common channel for the master unit and the slave unit.

According to the facsimile apparatus having the configuration of claim 2,
The carrier level is detected for each sequentially switched channel by the carrier level detecting means further provided in one of the master unit and the slave unit. If the carrier level is lower than a predetermined level, it is determined that this channel is not used by another cordless type facsimile machine or the like, but even if it is used, the level is lower than the allowable level. Only when the carrier level is lower than the predetermined level, channel extraction is performed for this channel using the response signal of the test pattern signal described above.

According to the facsimile apparatus of claim 3, one of the master unit and the slave unit sequentially switches a plurality of channels by the channel switching unit, and for each switched channel,
The noise level in this channel is detected. In this way, a channel having a low noise level is extracted according to the obtained noise level of each channel. As described above, if a channel with a low noise level is extracted,
By using this channel as a common channel for the parent device and the child device, image data is transmitted and received in good condition.

Further, according to the facsimile apparatus having the configuration of claim 4,
The carrier level is detected for each sequentially switched channel by the carrier level detecting means further provided in one of the master unit and the slave unit. If the carrier level is lower than a predetermined level, it is determined that this channel is not used by another cordless type facsimile machine or the like, but even if it is used, the level is lower than the allowable level. Only when the carrier level is lower than the predetermined level, the above-described noise level is detected for this channel, and channel extraction is performed using this noise level.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2A is a block diagram of the master unit 1, and FIG. 1B is a block diagram of the slave unit 2.

The power supply unit 10 of the base unit 1 converts an AC voltage from a commercial power supply into a predetermined DC voltage, stabilizes the DC voltage, and supplies power to each unit of the base unit 1. The NCU 11 connects the telephone line to the base unit 1 when a call signal is received or when communicating with another station. NCU 11 releases the telephone line from base unit 1 when the communication is completed. The transmission unit 12 modulates a digital signal (image data) from the control unit 14 into a wireless signal, amplifies the signal to a predetermined transmission power, and transmits the signal to the slave unit 2 from the antenna 16. The receiving unit 13 demodulates a radio signal received from the slave unit 2 by the antenna 16 into image data. The control unit 14 includes a microcomputer, a memory, and the like, controls each unit of the master unit 1, and sets a communication channel of image data by communicating with the slave unit 2. The synthesizer section 15 oscillates a carrier of the communication channel.

The power supply unit 20 of the slave unit 2 supplies a constant voltage to each unit of the slave unit 2. The receiving section 21 amplifies the wireless signal from the base unit 1 received by the antenna 25 and sends the amplified signal to the modem 22. The modem 22 demodulates the signal from the receiving unit 21 and modulates the signal encoded by the encoding unit 23. The encoding unit 23 encodes a signal from the control unit 27 and sends the signal to the modem 22. The transmission section 24 amplifies a signal from the modem 22 to a predetermined transmission power and transmits the signal from the antenna 25 to the base unit 1 as a wireless signal. Decoding unit 26
Is for decoding the signal from the modem 22 and sending it to the control unit 27.

The control unit 27 includes a microcomputer, a memory, and the like, controls each unit of the slave unit 2, and sets a communication channel of image data by communicating with the master unit 1. The synthesizer unit 28 oscillates the carrier of the above-mentioned channel. The synthesizers 15 and 28 can oscillate a plurality of carriers. Reading unit
Reference numeral 29 denotes a CCD sensor 291 and an image processing unit 292, which reads the original 30 and sends it to the control unit 27 as image data. The recording unit 31 includes a recording processing unit 311 and the like, and prints the received image data on the recording paper 32.

The channel monitoring unit 33 includes a filter 331, a detector 332, and an AD
It comprises a converter 333 and monitors the communication state.
That is, the filter 331 is formed of a band-pass filter capable of sequentially switching the center frequency to a predetermined channel frequency in accordance with a signal from the control unit 27. Disturbance noise such as television waves is extracted and sent to the detector 332. The detector 332 detects the input noise from the filter 331 and sends it to the AD converter 333. The AD converter 333 converts the level of the detected noise
It is converted and sent to the control unit 27. Then, the control unit 27 detects the input noise level in each channel.

The operation unit 34 has various operation keys for inputting a telephone number and the like. The display unit 35 performs various displays. The motor drive unit 36 includes a reading unit 29 and a recording unit 31.
For driving a motor (not shown).

Next, the operation of one embodiment for selecting a channel using the facsimile apparatus having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the subroutine of Step S ₁ (Figure 3 or 4
Figure) channel used for communication of image data between the main unit 1 and the handset 2 is selected, the channel of the master unit 1 and the handset 2 are fixed respectively switched to the selected channel in step S ₂ . Then, the selected one page of communication by using a common channel channel is performed between the master unit 1 and the handset 2 at Step S _3. After the page th communication is performed, whether the communication between base unit 1 and the handset 2 is completed is determined in step S _4. That is, step S ₃
It is determined whether or not the page communicated in is the last page. Then, the communication has ended (YES in step S _4), the second
The processing of the flowchart in FIG.

On the other hand, if no the communication is completed (Step S ₄
NO), returns to the subroutine of Step S _1, the state of the channel currently in use is determined.

Now be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG. 3 for the first embodiment of a subroutine of the step S _1. First
In the embodiment, the master unit 1 selects a channel. It is assumed that the number of channels is 10, and the channel numbers of the facsimile apparatus are "0" to "9".

Stored value A of the error rate is initialized in step S _11. That is, the error rate A is set to, for example, 100%. Subsequently, the stored value of the channel counter B is initialized (B = 0) in step S _12. Next, set the channel are "0" channel used for communication of image data in the main unit 1 and the handset 2 at step S _13, the "0" channel of the carrier level is detected in step S _14. Then, step
Whether the detection of the carrier is determined in S _15. That is, if the carrier level of the “0” channel is equal to or higher than the predetermined level, it is determined that a carrier or the like used in another cordless type facsimile apparatus has been detected.
On the other hand, if the carrier level is less than the predetermined level,
It is determined that the carrier is not used, or even if it is used, its level is below the allowable level.

When the carrier is detected (step S ₁₅
In NO), whether the last channel is determined in step S _16. Here, "0" for the channel, the process proceeds to step S _17, channel counter B is incremented.
That is, it becomes the “1” channel. After this, step S ₁₃
The channel used for communication between the master unit 1 and the slave unit 2 is set to the “1” channel.

On the other hand, a carrier is not detected in step S ₁₅ (YES at step S _15), the training signal is transmitted to the child device 2 in step S _18. That is, from the main unit 1, a training signal (test pattern signal) is sent to the handset 2 by a carrier channel set in step S _13, for example made of pre-agreed test pattern. And
The training signal in step S ₁₉ is transmitted from the training result signal handset 2 indicating whether or not correctly received by the slave unit 2, the main unit 1 receives the training result signal, the error of the channel from the training result The rate is calculated and stored in the storage value A.

Next, the error rate is compared to the error rate A stored in step S _20. Here, since the error rate of the “0” channel is compared with the initialized error rate A (100%), the error rate of the “0” channel is good. Therefore,
Proceeds to step S _21, "0" channel is held (stored). On the other hand, in step S _20, for example, "1" channel "0" error rate than the channel is poor, without performing the processing in step S _21, the process proceeds to step S _22. Then, by performing the processing of steps S ₂₀ and S ₂₁ up to the last channel, the channel with the smallest error rate A is held.

In step S _22, whether the last channel is determined. Here, "0" for the channel, the process proceeds to step S _23, channel counter B is incremented. That is, it becomes the “1” channel. Thereafter, the process returns to step S _13, the channel used for communication of the master unit 1 and the handset 2 are respectively set to "1" channel.

Then, processing in steps S ₁₃ ~ Step S ₂₃ is repeated until the last channel ( "9" channel), step S
If it is determined to have been processed to the final channel ₂₂ (YES at step S _22), the process returns to step S _2. That is,
The channel that can communicate with the best condition is selected from all the channels, and the process returns.

On the other hand, the process of step S ₁₃ ~ Step S ₂₃ is repeated until the last channel, the carrier for all channels is detected, it becomes YES in step S _16, indicating that there is no free channel the process proceeds to step S ₂₄ Is notified. That is, for example, a signal indicating that there is no empty channel is transmitted to the slave unit 2, and a display indicating that there is no empty channel is displayed on the display unit 35.

As described above, in the first embodiment, the master unit 1 selects a channel which can communicate in the best condition among all the channels for each communication page. Then, the communication of the next page is performed by using the channel as a common channel between the master unit 1 and the slave unit 2.

Instead of the base unit 1 in the first embodiment, the slave unit 2 may perform the channel selection by performing the processes in steps S ₁₁ ~ step S _24. In this case, a training signal is sent from the handset 2 to the main unit 1 (step S _18), the master unit 1
Training result signal is sent to the slave unit 2 (step S _19).

Now be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG. 4 for the second embodiment of the subroutine of the step S _1. Second
In the embodiment, the slave unit 2 performs channel selection.

That is, the storage value D stored value C of the channel counter stores the level of the channel are initialized (C = 0) is initialized in step S _31. That is, level D is set to the maximum possible value of the channel. Next, a channel used for communication of image data between the master unit 1 and the slave unit 2 is set, the carrier level of the channel is detected, and the presence or absence of the carrier is determined (steps _S32 to _S34 ).

And the carrier is not detected (YE in Step S ₃₄
S), the center frequency of the filter 331 of the channel monitor 33 is changed to the frequency of the channel set in step S _37. Next, the signal of the channel frequency passed through the filter 331 is detected by the detector 332, and the level of the detected signal is detected by the AD converter 333. And step
In step _S38 , the set channel frequency level is compared with the stored level D. If the set channel frequency level is smaller than the level D, the process proceeds to step S38.
_{The flow} shifts to ₃₉ , where the set channel is held (stored).

On the other hand, when the level of the set channel frequency is greater than the level D stored in step S _38, without performing the processing in step S _39, the process proceeds to step S _40. That is, by performing the processing of steps S ₃₈ and S ₃₉ up to the final channel, the channel with the lowest noise level is held.

In step S _40, whether the last channel is determined, if it is the last channel, the process returns to step S _2. That is, a channel with the lowest noise level and the best communication is selected from all the channels, and the process returns. On the other hand, if the last channel is incremented channel counter C to the next channel (step S _41), processing in and after step S ₃₂ is performed.

On the other hand, when the carrier is detected in step S _34, it is the determination of whether the last channel in step S _35. Then, processing in steps S ₃₂ ~ Step S ₄₁ is repeated until the last channel, the carrier for all channels is detected, for example, display indicating that there is no idle channel to the display unit 35 is performed.

As described above, in the second embodiment, the slave unit 2 selects a channel having the lowest noise level and capable of communicating in the best condition from all the channels for each communication page. Then, the communication of the next page is performed by using the channel as a common channel between the master unit 1 and the slave unit 2.

Instead of the handset 2 in the second embodiment, the master unit 1 may perform channel selection by performing the processes in steps S ₃₁ ~ step S _42. In this case, base unit 1 includes a channel monitoring unit, and selects a channel having the lowest noise level from all the channels.

〔The invention's effect〕

According to the present invention, a channel that can communicate in the best condition is extracted and selected from among the shared channels, and communication is performed as a common channel between the master unit and the slave unit. It is possible to minimize the communication error of the image data due to the influence and the influence of the disturbance noise, and to perform the communication of the image data between the master unit and the slave unit with high quality.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 1 (a) is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a parent machine, and FIG. 1 (b)
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the slave unit, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of the facsimile apparatus, FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of an operation for channel selection of the master unit according to the present invention, FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing one embodiment of an operation for selecting a channel of the slave unit according to the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a cordless type facsimile apparatus. 1 ... master unit, 2 ... slave unit, 11 ... NCU, 12 ... transmission unit, 1
3 ... Reception unit, 14 ... Control unit, 15 ... Synthesizer unit, 1
6 Antenna, 21 Receiver, 22 Modem, 24
Transmitting unit, 25 antenna, 27 control unit, 28 synthesizer unit, 29 reading unit, 31 recording unit, 33 channel monitoring unit, 35 display unit, 331 filter, 332 …… Detector, 333 …… AD converter.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Koji Nakamura, Inventor Koji Nakamura 1-2-28, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Japan Inside Mita Kogyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Teruo Aoki 1-2-2, Tamazo, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka No. 28 Inside Mita Kogyo Co., Ltd. (72) Masaru Sato 1-2-2 Tamazuki, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka 28-28 Inside Mita Kogyo Co., Ltd. Masahiro Kawaji 1-2-2 Tamatsukuri, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka No. 28 Inside Mita Kogyo Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-57-91070 (JP, A) JP-A-57-57047 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) H04N 1/00 H04M 11/00

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] Claims: 1. A plurality of channels are shared between a parent device and a child device,
A cordless facsimile apparatus in which the slave unit transmits and receives image data via the master unit using a common channel, wherein one of the master unit and the slave unit switches a plurality of channels sequentially. Test pattern transmitting means for transmitting a test pattern signal to the other on the carrier of the channel set by the channel switching means, response signal receiving means for receiving a response signal from the other to the test pattern signal, and Error rate calculating means for calculating an error rate in a channel to which the test pattern signal is transmitted, and channel extracting means for extracting a channel having a small error rate in accordance with the error rate obtained for each channel, Is configured to switch channels in conjunction with the channel switching means. Facsimile apparatus comprising the response signal transmitting means for transmitting to the one created the response signal in response to said received test pattern signal. 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of the master unit and the slave unit further includes a carrier level detecting unit for detecting a carrier level of a channel set by the channel switching unit. Only when the carrier level detecting means detects a carrier level lower than a predetermined level among a plurality of channels sequentially switched by the channel switching means, the transmitting means transmits the test pattern signal on the carrier of this channel. Facsimile machine. 3. A plurality of channels are shared between a master unit and a slave unit,
A cordless facsimile apparatus in which the slave unit transmits and receives image data via the master unit using a common channel, wherein one of the master unit and the slave unit switches a plurality of channels sequentially. A noise level detecting means for detecting a noise level in a channel set by the channel switching means, and a channel extracting means for extracting a channel having a low noise level according to the noise level obtained for each channel, A facsimile apparatus characterized in that the other is configured to switch channels in conjunction with the channel switching means. 4. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 3, wherein one of the master unit and the slave unit further includes a carrier level detecting unit for detecting a carrier level of a channel set by the channel switching unit, and the noise level The detecting means is configured to detect a noise level in this channel only when the carrier level detecting means detects a carrier level lower than a predetermined level among a plurality of channels sequentially switched by the channel switching means. Facsimile machine.